This month Sidney-Pacific students came together to cook a hearty meal for over 100 residents of CASPAR.  CASPAR is a nonprofit organization that operates as a shelter and soup kitchen.  It also provides outreach, stabilization, residential, aftercare, education, and prevention services to those in need.  The shelter and kitchen serves dinner to over 100 people every night, and it relies on the generosity of local restaurants and businesses for food donations. Over the past ten years, MIT’s graduate residences and the CASPAR emergency shelter have developed a good relationship. SP usually donates leftover food from our large events such as our summer BBQs and monthly brunches to CASPAR. In addition, last year, the Warehouse started a recurring resident volunteering program through which residents volunteer every other week to help serve dinner at the soup kitchen, and recently we have expanded that program to include Ashdown and SP residents as well.  On Sunday November 6th, SP residents cooked and baked for 5 hours and carried the food over to the CASPAR residence located on Albany Street. Pasta, meatballs, chicken, bread, cookies and brownies were served to very appreciative individuals in need.  The partnership with CASPAR is important to raise awareness of this organization’s efforts and to gain an appreciation for the tireless work that one of our close neighbors does for the community.  This effort was made possible through a Public Service Grant awarded to SP members.  SP plans on serving another dinner in December, closer to the holidays.

By Emily Calandrelli, SP Outreach Chair